Researchers tested a new program called RISE that helps teenagers with serious eating disorders get better without going to the hospital. The program combined medical care, nutrition help, and family support through regular visits over 8 weeks. Of the 27 teenagers who participated, almost all stayed out of the hospital, and they gained healthy weight while eating much more food. The teenagers also reported fewer unhealthy eating behaviors by the end of treatment. This suggests that intensive outpatient care delivered through a structured program could be an effective way to help young people with eating disorders early on, before they need hospitalization.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a new intensive outpatient program could help malnourished teenagers with eating disorders gain weight, eat more, and avoid needing to go to the hospital.
  • Who participated: 27 adolescents (teenagers) who had eating disorders and were at serious risk of needing hospitalization. The study was a pilot program, meaning it was a small test to see if the approach would work.
  • Key finding: Only 1 out of 27 teenagers (3.7%) needed hospitalization during the program. Teenagers gained an average of 2.7 kilograms (about 6 pounds), increased their calorie intake from 43% to 76% of what they should be eating, and the number reporting unhealthy weight control behaviors dropped from 10 teenagers to 3 teenagers.
  • What it means for you: If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, this program suggests there may be an effective way to get intensive help without needing to stay in a hospital. However, this was a small pilot study, so more research is needed before we know how well it works for everyone.

The Research Details

The RISE program used what’s called a “home hospital” approach. This means teenagers received intensive medical and nutrition care through regular outpatient visits (coming to appointments) rather than staying overnight in a hospital. Over 8 weeks, each teenager had 4-5 visits with doctors who specialize in adolescent medicine and nutrition experts. During these visits, teenagers and their families learned about eating disorders and how to implement the treatment plan at home. The program measured several things before treatment started and at the end: vital signs (like heart rate and blood pressure), weight, how much food teenagers were eating, and their eating disorder behaviors and thoughts.

This research approach is important because it tests whether intensive outpatient care can work as well as or better than hospitalization for teenagers at high risk. By measuring multiple factors (weight, food intake, behaviors, and vital signs), the researchers could see if the program was actually helping teenagers get healthier. The structured approach with regular visits and family involvement reflects current best practices in eating disorder treatment.

This was a pilot study with a small group (27 teenagers), which means the results are promising but need to be tested with larger groups before we can be completely confident. The study measured real outcomes like hospitalization rates and weight gain, which are meaningful indicators of success. However, there was no comparison group (like teenagers receiving standard care), so we can’t say for certain that this program is better than other treatments. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means other experts reviewed the research before publication.

What the Results Show

The most important finding was that the RISE program successfully prevented hospitalization for almost all participants. Only 1 out of 27 teenagers (3.7%) needed to be hospitalized during the program, which is very low for a group considered at high risk. All teenagers in the program gained weight, with an average gain of 2.7 kilograms (about 6 pounds) from the start to the end of treatment. This weight gain is significant because it shows the program helped teenagers restore their bodies to healthier weights. Teenagers also dramatically increased how much they were eating. At the beginning, they were eating only about 43% of the calories they should be eating for their age and size. By the end of the 8-week program, they were eating about 76% of the recommended amount. This is a substantial improvement in just 8 weeks. Additionally, unhealthy weight control behaviors (like restricting food, excessive exercise, or purging) decreased significantly. At the start, 10 teenagers (37%) reported using these behaviors, but by the end, only 3 teenagers (11%) reported them.

The program successfully integrated three important components: medical oversight to monitor physical health, family-based treatment principles that involve parents and caregivers, and nutritional support from specialists. The fact that teenagers and families completed the program and showed these improvements suggests that the structured, intensive outpatient approach was acceptable and feasible for this population. The relatively short timeframe (8 weeks) for achieving these results is notable, as it suggests that intensive, focused intervention may work quickly for teenagers at high risk.

This research aligns with growing evidence that family-based treatment is effective for eating disorders in adolescents. The “home hospital” concept builds on existing models that try to provide intensive care while keeping teenagers in their home environment and with their families. Previous research has shown that early intervention and preventing hospitalization are important goals in eating disorder treatment. This study suggests that a structured, program-led approach combining medical care, nutrition, and family involvement may be one way to achieve these goals.

This was a small pilot study with only 27 participants, so the results may not apply to all teenagers with eating disorders. There was no comparison group receiving standard care, so we can’t say definitively that this program is better than other treatments. The study didn’t follow teenagers after the 8-week program ended, so we don’t know if the improvements lasted over time. The study was conducted at one location, so results might be different in other settings or communities. We don’t know details about what happened to the one teenager who was hospitalized or why. The study didn’t measure mental health outcomes like depression or anxiety, only eating-related behaviors.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, the RISE program appears promising for teenagers with eating disorders who are at risk of hospitalization. The evidence suggests that intensive outpatient care combining medical oversight, nutrition support, and family involvement may help teenagers gain weight, eat more, and avoid hospitalization. However, this is based on a small pilot study, so these recommendations should be considered preliminary. If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, talk to a doctor about whether this type of intensive outpatient program might be appropriate. The confidence level is moderate—the results are encouraging, but larger studies are needed.

This research is most relevant for teenagers with eating disorders who are malnourished and at risk of hospitalization, as well as their families. Healthcare providers who work with eating disorders should know about this approach as a potential alternative to hospitalization. Parents and caregivers of teenagers with eating disorders may find hope in these results. This program may be less relevant for teenagers with very severe eating disorders requiring immediate hospitalization or for adults, as this study only included adolescents.

In this study, significant improvements appeared within 8 weeks, including weight gain and increased food intake. However, the most important outcome—preventing hospitalization—was measured throughout the program. It’s realistic to expect that intensive outpatient treatment might show benefits within weeks, but maintaining these improvements long-term likely requires ongoing support beyond the initial 8 weeks.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily calorie intake as a percentage of recommended intake (similar to how the study measured it). Users could set a goal to gradually increase from their baseline to 76% or higher of recommended calories, with weekly check-ins to monitor progress.
  • Users could use the app to log meals and snacks, receive reminders for eating appointments, track weight weekly (if appropriate and safe), and monitor the frequency of disordered eating behaviors (like food restriction or excessive exercise). The app could also send reminders for family-based treatment activities or psychoeducation lessons.
  • Establish a weekly tracking routine where users log their food intake, weight (if medically appropriate), vital signs if they have equipment to measure them, and any disordered eating behaviors. The app could generate weekly reports showing progress toward goals and flag concerning trends for discussion with their treatment team. This mirrors the structured monitoring approach used in the RISE program.

This research describes a pilot program for treating eating disorders in teenagers. If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider, such as a doctor, psychiatrist, or eating disorder specialist, before making any treatment decisions. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that require professional medical supervision. This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. The RISE program may not be available in all locations, and treatment should be individualized based on each person’s specific needs and medical situation.